TSC suspends 160 teachers for disrupting training on new curriculum

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has suspended 160 teachers among them 10 union officials accused of boycotting and disrupting training on the new competency-based curriculum (CBC).

Citizen Digital has seen a number of interdiction letters sent to various teachers across the country informing them of the disciplinary action.

In the letters signed by the respective county directors, the affected teachers have been given 21 days to show cause why they should not be fired on grounds of violating rules and regulations.

“Before the commission proceeds to consider and determine your case… You are invited to make a defense statement/Response to the commission within 21 days from the date of this letter,” reads the letter in part.

The interdiction is effective May 5, 2019.

In the meantime, the interdicted teachers who are office holders are required to vacate their positions immediately.

Earlier, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia had warned that stern action would be taken against any teacher who would interfere with CBC training sessions.

This was after temporary disruption of training sessions was witnessed in parts of Kakamega, Makueni, Homa Bay among other counties.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) which has stood its ground against implementation of the new curriculum called on its members to boycott the exercise, claiming that it was being conducted unlawfully.

“The law requires an exercise of such a magnitude to have guidelines and a gazetted commission to anchor the entire process… Besides, the due process of reforming the content of the curriculum was never followed to the letter, hence making the entire exercise illegal,” said Sossion in a statement last month.

Education CS George Magoha, however, insists that the roll-out of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) training will continue, adding that it will not only identify the problems plaguing the education sector but also train job creators.

“We shall not tolerate cases where staff of the Ministry fail to coordinate their activities jointly with the TSC. I shall take stern action against my staff who will be reported as having failed to cooperate with those of the TSC in discharging education duties to learners….. I will personally be part of the teams that will travel to various counties to monitor this exercise to ensure it goes as planned,” he said on April 23.

Prof. Magoha said the ministry will roll out the CBC in Grade 4 next year and by September 2019,  there will be an assertive plan for the roll out.